Third Sunday in Lent: Psalm, Psalm 85                             

Psalm 85

God has a history with his people. He has revealed himself steadily and unquestionably as a God who forgives. He not only forgives but provides all that we need to change our standing before him. And that requires atonement or covering. Hence, we require righteousness. As dear old Dr. Mitchell at the seminary used to say, “There is one righteousness in the universe. It belongs to God. And he gives it to us as a gift.

I love the Psalms so much and for the past several years I have made it my discipline to walk through all of them prayerfully each month. I’m learning the psalms. And I love it. One of the reasons I love the practice is because it forces honesty. You don’t get very far in the psalter without realizing that the Holy Spirit has inspired the writers to … well … “spill their guts.” There’s no hiding from the “God of seeing.” (cf. Genesis 16:13)

Our psalm for the week includes honest assessments, honest questions, and conclusions that point to a God who forgives again and again. Steadily and unquestionably. Enjoy!